Parents, teachers and school administrators take part in a informational session for parents at the Citizen Genet Elementary School on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013 in East Greenbush, NY. The session covered Common Core Learning Standards, the New York State Assessment Program and the APPR Process. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union) less

Parents, teachers and school administrators take part in a informational session for parents at the Citizen Genet Elementary School on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013 in East Greenbush, NY. The session covered Common ... more

Photo: Paul Buckowski

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Parents listen to a presentation during a informational session for parents at the Citizen Genet Elementary School on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013 in East Greenbush, NY. The session covered with Common Core Learning Standards, the New York State Assessment Program and the APPR Process. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union) less

Parents listen to a presentation during a informational session for parents at the Citizen Genet Elementary School on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013 in East Greenbush, NY. The session covered with Common Core Learning ... more

Photo: Paul Buckowski

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Parents watch a presentation on an example of a Common Core lesson during a informational session for parents at the Citizen Genet Elementary School on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013 in East Greenbush, NY. The session covered with Common Core Learning Standards, the New York State Assessment Program and the APPR Process. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union) less

Parents watch a presentation on an example of a Common Core lesson during a informational session for parents at the Citizen Genet Elementary School on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013 in East Greenbush, NY. The session ... more

Photo: Paul Buckowski

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Angela Nagle, East Greenbush Schools superintendent, addresses those gathered for a informational session for parents at the Citizen Genet Elementary School on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013 in East Greenbush, NY. The session covered with Common Core Learning Standards, the New York State Assessment Program and the APPR Process. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union) less

Angela Nagle, East Greenbush Schools superintendent, addresses those gathered for a informational session for parents at the Citizen Genet Elementary School on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013 in East Greenbush, NY. The ... more

Photo: Paul Buckowski

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'Core' a new way to count

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East Greenbush

A district kindergarten teacher on Tuesday used the example of how the new Common Core curriculum will take 4- and 5-year-olds from using their fingers to count to immediately recognizing number quantities at a glance.

"It focuses the kids on identifying how many objects are in a group quickly, rather than pointing and counting 1, 2, 3," said Maureen McHugh, an elementary school teacher in the East Greenbush Central School District.

Officials held an informational session on the new federal standards adopted by the state Education Department and being implemented as a "shift" in school curriculums to better prepare kids for the modern world and to encourage them to be "scholars." Presenters told parents how the changes will affect their children's school day and how they can help at home.

The night was a cordial affair compared with the first public discussion on the changes at a Poughkeepsie event last week at which Education Commissioner John King left the stage as parents in the crowd booed the idea and offered loud criticism. King canceled a series of public events at which he was supposed to explain Common Core to parents, including one scheduled for last Wednesday in Clifton Park. Another is now planned Thursday in Albany.

District Superintendent Angela M. Nagle said parents have to be patient and listen.

"Poughkeepsie was an example of parents behaving badly," Nagel said "Still, we want your feedback so we can send it along to the state Education Department for consideration as this process evolves."

Some parents at the meeting expressed concerns that their children will be pushed too hard with the new standards and the timed tests that come with them, and that they could end up doing worse in school as a result. "All students will be helped, and we are talking to the state Education Department about giving more time for tests," Nagle said.

Using a classroom video, McHugh showed her pupils sitting at a table, each with a die in their palm. They would drop it and be asked to quickly write down how many dots they saw. Many were naturals, and others started to point and count the dots one by one. After a few tries, they abandoned the counting with a little coaching. It took them much longer to actually write the number. "Their minds quickly adapted and can recognize number patterns, but their motor skills are still developing," McHugh said.

The video was an example of a word used in the new curriculum: "subitizing," McHugh told a crowd of a 100-plus parents and educators at the Citizen Genet Elementary School auditorium.

The changes in mathematics instruction across the classes will focus on learning "more about less," or concentrating on a problem, solving it and then explaining the conclusions. It also will focus kids on thinking faster to solve problems and how to use math in the real world, such as having a child figure out in their heads how much a certain weight of produce will cost while grocery shopping with mom and dad.

In the area of English language and arts, the changes will include more nonfiction reading, pushing children to read at more challenging levels and helping them learn how to handle frustration.

Students will also be encouraged to read more "real-world writing and source material."

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Parents were also told that testing will be more complex and will demand more attention to detail.

"In old multiple choice questions, for instance, students learned that they could pretty much eliminate two of the potential answers as incorrect," said Frank DiDonato, high school math teacher. "With the new tests, all the answers are plausible and the student must select the most correct answer."

The district will offer new testing in June 2014 allowing students to take the Common Core regents test and the regular Regents test. The highest of the two scores will count. After that, the Common Core regents will become the norm.